Index for telephones



(No Model.)

F. S. BLANGHARD. INDEX FOR TELEPHONE3.

Patented May 30 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK S. BLANOHARD, OF VVOROESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

INDEX FOR TELEPHONES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,503, dated May 30, 1893. Application filed October 10, 1892- Serial No. 448,289- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, FRANK S. BLANCHARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Index for Telephones and other Purposes, of which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification suinciently full, clear, and exact to enable persons skilled in the art to which this invention appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to improved construction in that class of indexes or reference tables, comprising a series of plates, printed cards or indicating tablets combined with a standard or back-board adapted to be fixed to a wall and whereon the cards or tablets are arranged in a manner to swing to the right or left for presenting either side of the same to view; the said improvedarticle being designed for use as a telephone call indicator, an advertising directory, or, as a reference index for general purposes.

The prime object of my invention is to provide an index of the class above named with a convenient and simple detachable hinging' device or means for connecting and supporting the swinging cards or tablets in conjunction with the back-board in such manner that the said cards or tablets can be quickly and conveniently changed, the entire series removed and replaced by new cards or tablets; or additional cards introduced into the series at any time when desired, with ease and practical facility.

Another object is to render the construction and arrangement simple andlinexpensive for manufacture, and convenient for the assemblage of parts in the index.

These objects I attain by the construction illustrated and described, the particular sub ject matter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a front view of my improved index; Fig. 2 a side View.

7 Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same through one of the connecting joints; Fig. 4 a plan and side of the connecting wire separate from other parts, and Fig. 5 shows details of the back and the wire attachment.

Referring to parts, A indicates the backsisting of aneatly formed panel of wood with a molded edge, or of other suitable material. Said back is provided with holes a a for the hinging wires. The back-board can be attached to the wall by a screw S, or by other suitable means.

B indicates the cards or tablets upon which the names or other indicating matter are printed. The printing and index characters may be on both sides of the respective tablets. The tablets or cards are perforated or eyeleted near one edge, as at c, and attheir other edge are formed with projectingportions b, on which part the index letters or characters are delineated. The projecting parts I) on the different tablets are located at diiferent positions as to their height, so that the entire alphabet or all the index characters of an entire series of cards or tablets will be simultaneously revealed when the series is laid together, as in Fig. 1. -A series of these cards or tablets containing any required number, more or less, is connected to the back A, at two (or more) places, by means of curved rods or circularbent wires D that pass through theperforations or eyelet-holes c, and have back- Wardly extending ends d d that are inserted into the holes a in the back-piece; the circular portion of the wire projecting forward from the face thereof in the manner illustrated. The projecting portion of the wire is best formed somewhat more than a semicirboard or supporting standard preferably concle, and on said circular wires the tablets B Y can swing from side to side for opening any intervening space and revealing either face of any tablet, the perforated edges of the respective tablets sliding around the circled wire, as indicated in Fig. 3. The holes a in the back-piece are preferably formed to have backwardly a slight outward inclination, and are best fitted with metal bushings I; likewise the ends at "of the circular wires D are made outwardly inclined so that when sprung inward and inserted in the holes their reaction spring or outward pressure Willtend to hold them in position so that the ordinary uses of the index will not pull them out of the back-board, but at the same time retaining them in such manner that the wires can readily be withdrawn from theback by exertion of properly applied force whenever it is desired to change or replace the indicating tablets or to add new cards or tablets to the series.

In some instances if desired, the ends of the wires D can be fitted with a lug or slight offset, as at f, to engage with a suitable lug or incline within the hole or bushing, as atf Fig. 5 for giving a stronger hold than would the plain inclined end as shown at the right in Fig. 5.

The diameter or size of the curvature or circle of the upper connecting wire is preferably made somewhat greater than that of the lower connecting wire; this gives a tendency for the tablets to hang outward and lie fiat together. The front portions of the connecting wires are preferably bent upward slightly, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4; this gives a tendency to the cards or tablets to swing backward to the right and left when opened at any space. 7

When the index is of considerable size, or with long tablets, another connecting wire D, similar to those shown, can be employed at an intermediateposition between the upper and lower connecting wires for retaining the central part of the tablet and preventing undue flexure thereof.

It will be understood that I do not claim broadly an index composed of a series of swinging tablets or cards mounted on a supporting back that is attachable to a wall;

such features having been heretofore employed in different embodiments; but.- my invention is the index having the peculiar construction and arrangement of parts defined, whereby ready and convenient change of the tablets can be effected.

I claim as my invention herein to besecured by Letters Patent 1. An index of the characterdescribed, comprising the supporting panel or back-board adapted for attachmentin upright position to a wall or standard and having openings a with bushings therein, the series of card tablets perforated or eyeleted near their inner edge and having on their outer edge projecting portions 1) for containing the index letters or characters, said projecting portions on the respective tablets being located at difierent positions as to height to reveal both faces thereof, and the connecting wires formed as shown with the semicircular or curved portion passing laterally through the perforations in said tablet cards, and backwardly extending ends that are inserted in the openings a and removably retained therein by the lateral spring of the wires, substantially as set forth.

2. The connecting wire having its projecting circular portion upwardly inclined at the front, in relation to'the face of the back-board in combination with perforated index cards supported thereon, and the back-board in which the ends of said wire are secured, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination With the back-board and index cards or tablets, the bushingsI having the outwardly flared opening f and the connecting wire having the backwardly extended ends fitted with a lug or offset f thereon, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. An index of the characterdescribed,comprising in combination the backboard adapted for use in upright position, and the series of perforated cards or index tablets; the upper and lower semi-circular hinge wires connecting said cards to the back-board and having the circle of said upper connecting, wire formed of greater radius or of larger diameter than that of the lower connecting wire, for the purpose set forth.

Witness my hand this 5th day of October, A.D. 1892.

FRANK S. BLANOHARD.

Witnesses:

CHAS. I-I. BURLEIGH, ELLA P. BLENUS. 

